One analyst thinks the Pittsburgh Steelers can finally end their revolving door of quarterbacks this offseason.
All signs continue to point toward Aaron Rodgers being the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback in 2026. However, one NFL analyst thinks they will have the opportunity to land another starting quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Outside of presumptive No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza , Dan Orlovsky of ESPN believes there's one other starting quarterback in this year's draft: Alabama's Ty Simpson .
"I don't believe that I've stated that I'm putting Ty Simpson into that very rare group of the Lamar's [Jackson], Josh's [Allen], Patrick's [ Mahomes ] and Joe's [Burrow] and what not, but I believe he's a starting quarterback in the NFL," Orlovsky said on the Ross Tucker Football Podcast . "Can you see the defense? Can you see what the defense is doing and know where the ball is supposed to go? I think Ty Simpson's tape is overwhelmingly a yes in that regard."
There has been a lot of debate about whether Simpson is worthy of a first-round selection , but Orlovsky has continued to be in the Alabama product's corner.
Simpson currently ranks as the No. 31 overall player on the NFL Mock Draft Database's consensus big board , putting him very much in reach of the Steelers, if they believe in him just as much as Orlovsky does.
Only time will tell if that will be the case, but Simpson did show flashes of his capability at the next level, throwing for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and just five interceptions while leading Alabama to the College Football Playoffs last season.
Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson (15) looks to pass during the fourth quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs during the 2025 SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Dec 6, 2025. — Brett Davis/Imagn ImagesCredit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Even if the Steelers think Simpson is a borderline first-round pick, selecting him with the No. 21 overall selection, trading back, or trading back into the first could make sense as it would give them the fifth-year option on him.
However, several other quarterback-needy teams could be thinking the same thing, making Simpson one of the most intriguing names to watch in round one.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Analyst Believes Steelers Can Land Starting QB in 2026 NFL Draft
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